The Impact of Greek Life: Findings from a National Study

1. The Impact of Greek Life: Findings from a National Study Ramsey G. Jabaji Coordinator for Student Involvement & Leadership Development Programs University of Maryland, College Park Julie Owen Assistant Professor, Leadership & Integrative Studies George Mason University John P. Dugan Assistant Professor, Higher Education Loyola University Chicago Marlena Martinez Assistant Director, Fraternities, Sororities & Living Groups Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2. Format for Presentation • Brief overview of leadership development & Greek life • Overview of Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership (MSL) • Participant worksheet • MSL Greek Life findings- (social Greeks & cultural Greeks) • Implications for practice • Participant breakout session • Questions

3. Presentation Learning Outcomes • Participants will have an awareness leadership development work in the context of Greek Life • Participants will better understand the different leadership outcomes and experiences of social Greek students, cultural Greek students, and unaffiliated students • Participants will be capable of integrating Greek life leadership findings from the MSL study to enhance leadership programs within Greek life

4. Leadership Development & Greek Life Why? Because we say we do! • Mission, Vision, Values, Principles • Inter/National Organizations • Umbrella Groups (NALFO, NIC, NPC, NPHC, NMGC) • Campus Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Offices How? • National/Regional Councils and Conferences • Inter/National Organization Standards, Reports, Awards • Campus Outcomes, Programs, Standards But are we really? • Call for Values Congruence, Relevancy of Fraternal Movement, ASSESSMENT!

5. Overview of MSL The purpose of the Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership (MSL) is to improve education and society by enhancing knowledge regarding contemporary youth leadership development as well as the influence of higher education as a context in which building leadership capacity occurs. To examine student leadership values at both the institutional and national levels with specific attention to the environmental factors that influence leadership development in college students.

6. Overview of MSL Rationale • A significant gap between theory and practice as they relate to college student leadership • An unclear picture of the leadership development needs of college students • Uncertainty regarding the influence of the college environment on theoretically grounded leadership development

7. Overview of MSL: Theoretical Framework Social Change Model (HERI, 1996)

8. Overview of MSL: Conceptual Framework • Inputs: students' pre-college characteristics • Environment: programs, experiences, relationships, and other factors in the collegiate environment • Outcomes: students' characteristics after exposure to the college environment (Leadership Efficacy) (Astin, 1991; 1993)

9. Overview of MSL: Sample • 52 Participating Institutions: • Geographically diverse, Variety of institutional types, Differing levels of leadership programming • Total Sample Size = 165, 701 • Respondents = 63,095 • Return Rate = 38%

10. Gender: Male: 38.3 % Female: 61.5 % Transgender: 0.1 % Class Standing: Freshman: 23.3 % Sophomore: 21.7 % Junior: 26.3 % Senior: 28.8 % Race/Ethnicity: White: 71.8 % Black / African American: 5.2 % Asian / Asian American: 7.9 % Latino/a: 4.4 % Amer. Indian: 0.3 % Multiracial: 8.2 % Not Included: 2.3 % Overview of MSL: Overall Sample

11. Overview of MSL: Instrument • Instrument created by MSL research team • Pilot tested to verify reliability and validity • SRLS-R2 used to measure SCM • Average completion time = 20 minutes • Schools could also ask up to 10 institution-specific custom questions

12. Purpose of this Study • To understand the factors that contribute to socially responsible leadership development for social Greek students, cultural Greek students, and unaffiliated students in order to enhance Greek leadership programs.

13. Small Group Work • Complete the worksheet provided asking you to think about the different factors (environments) that contribute to socially responsible leadership for social Greeks, cultural Greeks, and unaffiliated students. Spend several minutes with your neighbor discussing your thoughts/ideas/rationale.

14. Our Findings Omnibus Socially Responsible Leadership Scale (5-point scale)

15. Findings continued Leadership Efficacy (4-point scale)

16. Findings Continued Omnibus Socially Responsible Leadership Scale

17. Findings Continued Leadership Efficacy

18. Implications for Practice • Socio-Cultural discussions matter • Involvement in college organizations matter • Leadership positions in college organizations matter

19. Small Group Work • What does socially responsible leadership look like in a Greek Life context? • How can you enhance delivery of Greek leadership programs around what we know relates to leadership? • Based on the MSL findings related to Greek Life & student leadership, what meaning do you make for your campus and how might you alter your existing Greek leadership program (or what might you think about when establishing a Greek leadership program)?

20. Thank you! • Questions? • To sign for the 2009 MSL study, visit www.leadershipstudy.net (Sign up and pay in full by April 15 and get a discount! • Email us with questions! Ramsey Jabaji- rjabaji@umd.edu) John Dugan- jdugan1@luc.edu) Julie Owen- julie.e.owen@gmail.com) Marlena Martinez- marlenam@MIT.EDU)